On Wendi C. Thomas (The Fame)

(Photo: CA)

Commercial Appeal columnist Wendi C. Thomas has been inducted into the Scripps Journalism Hall of Fame.

The newspaper plans to celebrate Monday.

From: Chris Peck
To: MPC Editorial
Sent: Jul 10, 2008 6:28 PM
Subject: Cake on Monday at 4:30

Everyone -

We've got a cake to eat.

Wendi Thomas has been inducted into the Scripps Journalism Hall of Fame. This recognition comes after multiple wins in the Scripps writing contest for commentary.

She joins the likes of Geoff Calkins, Alan Spearman and the now departed David Waters in the Scripps journalism Hall of Fame. It's a big deal and Wendi has gotten then very quickly as a result of her good work.

So, let's gather in the downtown newsroom at 4:30 p.m. Monday, July 14 for some cake and the presentation of a nice piece of hardware.


Chris Peck, Editor
The Commercial Appeal
495 Union Ave.
Memphis, TN 38103
peck@commercialappeal.com
901-529-2390

Congratulations, Wendi.

The list she joins is an interesting one. It's not that they aren't great journalists (because they are with honors beyond Scripps recognition) but they are (or were, in David Waters' case) also highly promo'd in terms of the monthly competition between Scripps newspapers.

I'm just sayin, the process to nominate entries for that monthly competition seems weighted to boost a few, selected journalists.

Though the competition is open to staff, during my tenure, the staff didn't determine who got selected to compete from month to month. (The winners receive a cash prize.) And so, the same folks seemed to get nominated over and over again--almost like a de facto merit pay opportunity. Does that mean that they are just that good or "the best" the CA thinks it has at the moment?

That's a very subjective argument.

Still, a win is a win, right?

To that end, again, congrats to Wendi.

She has an enviable job but the sheer criticism that she endures can make it a bitter experience--if you let it.

No wonder she rests so much of her writing on faith. It's uplifting.

*A Letter: